Recently, my mom was having some problems with a friend. There was much strife between the two, and it had led to a week long silent treatment. My mother was hurt, but was also acting stubborn, as many of us do when there are quarrels among us. As each day went by the grief would grow stronger. She was also battling a headache that seemed to make things worse. I prayed for a solution and I felt the Lord say that she needed to have complete forgiveness for the friend. I told her to let go of all negative feelings, and to act in a way that Jesus would act.
Sometimes we can’t forgive someone, because we simply don’t feel like doing it. God knows that, but He also knows the importance of forgiveness (as He has demonstrated through Jesus Christ), and He knows the affect that it has on His children.
In 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 Paul says, “If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything,, has been for your sakes in the presence (and with the approval) of Christ. To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us: for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.”
Unforgiveness gives the enemy permission to invade our lives, and he is more than willing to take advantage of that permission. It is for this reason that we must be in obedience to God when He says that we are to forgive.
I told my mom, “you might not feel like doing it, but you can tell God that you are forgiving your friend as an act of obedience.” Be honest with God and tell Him, “I don’t feel it Lord, but I’m doing it because You want me to.”
She said, “I just don’t know if I can do that.” Later on in the evening, she called me back and said, “well I listened to what you told me, and I did what you said to do.” After that they had joined together again in friendship, and the headache that tormented my mom had vanished.
I remember a similar instance in my life. My auntie had chikun guinea and she was suffering like anything. We prayed for her but nothing seemed to change. Sometime later as we were worshipping together, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that my auntie had unforgiveness in her heart. I asked her this and she said it was true. She said she hated her husband and was unwilling to forgive him. I tried all I could to pursue her to obey the Lord, but she just refused to. I still am amazed at her stubborness…it’s past one year and she still had chikun guinea with other ailments including varicose veins and spongilitis.
To harbor unforgiveness, there’s a lot to pay…our peace, our health and even our life!
Comment Submitted: June 25th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
The act of forgiveness is for our benefit, not the one we are forgiving, in my opinion. You are correct that Satan loves when we harbor anger, frustration, and an unwillingness to forgive others. It allows Satan great opportunity to play on those emotions. I know from personal experience the pain it causes when we are stubborn and aren’t willing to take the high road even when we feel we are in the right. The years that I could not forgive only hurt me mentally and emotionally. I’m glad that time is years in the past and what an amazing cleansing God can does when we obey Him.
Comment Submitted: June 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm